{"exhibit":{"title":"Why did Congress almost leave Washington in 1814?","description":"<p>During the War of 1812, British troops marched into Washington, DC, burning the US Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings around the National Mall. As buildings went up in flames, a violent thunderstorm and tornado further damaged the city. Demoralized by the massive destruction of the 14-year old capital, Congress debated whether to move the seat of government from Washington. The burning of Washington in August 1814 awoke arguments that began in the 1790s opposing the relocation of the national capital from Philadelphia to its present site on the Potomac.<\/p>","credits":"","featured":0,"public":1,"theme":"","theme_options":null,"slug":"1814","added":"2013-04-30 10:12:50","modified":"2014-09-02 14:53:21","owner_id":5,"use_summary_page":1,"cover_image_file_id":null,"id":30},"item":{"item_type_id":14,"collection_id":null,"featured":1,"public":1,"added":"2013-04-25 09:42:37","modified":"2015-10-05 11:41:34","owner_id":4,"id":306}}